Tag: Rivers

The factional members of the Rivers House of Assembly on Monday adopted a resolution condemning the alleged withholding of funds for the management of the Assembly the state government.

The faction led by its Speaker, Mr Martin Amaewhule, made the disclosure at its 87th plenary in Port Harcourt.

The group comprising 27 legislators, accused the state Governor, Mr Siminialayi Fubara, for starving them of funds.

The 27 lawmakers out of the 32 lawmakers of the House, thereafter, announced their defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Read Also: PHOTOS: 27 lawmakers loyal to Wike defect to APC in Rivers

The defectors cited division in the PDP as the reason for crossing to the APC.

Speaking after reading the letters signed by the defected lawmakers, Amaewhule directed the Clerk of the House to convey their resolution to the governor, Mr Siminialayi Fubara and relevant authorities.

According to him, the decision of 27 lawmakers is borne out of the desire to serve the state better.

However, the Rivers State Local Government (Amendment) Bill 2023′ scaled through the second reading at the plenary. (NAN)

A popular celebrity photographer based in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Wildshot, has died in a lone car accident at the Wimpe area of Obio-Akpor local government area of the state.

The photographer was said to have rammed into a building while trying to overtake a trailer at about 9pm on Friday.

The deceased was reportedly at a popular gymnastic centre in Port Harcourt when his mother called him to inform him that some suspected cultists were shooting around her residence.

The photographer and only child of her mother was said to have abandoned his activities at the gym, hopped into his car and rushed to the area to save his mother.

However,  it was learnt that the Wildshot, who was on speed, tried to overtake a trailer but lost control of his car, rammed into a building and sustained serious injuries.

It was gathered that he was confirmed dead at a third hospital after two hospitals he was initially rushed to reportedly rejected him. 

A source, who was at the gym with Wildshot said: “We were together with him when he said he rushed out of the gym after receiving a call. 

Read Also: Court asks Fubara, others not to muzzle Rivers Assembly

“He said his mother called him and complained that some people were shooting around her residence. He told us he was going to relocate his mother from the troubled zone. 

“But a few minutes after, we got information that he had an accident. People tried to save him by taking him to three hospitals. Before they got to the third hospital, he was confirmed dead”.

A coach at the gym, Wisdom, described his death as sudden and shocking, saying people at the gym mourned his death. 

Wildshot died a day to his birthday”.

• We won’t ignore our promises, Fubara vow

There was jubilation in Rivers State at the weekend following the decision of  the state Governor, Sir. Siminalayi Fubara, to sign memoranda of understanding with two companies to commence the construction of 20,000 low cost housing units and a spare parts market in the state.

The agreement for the development of RIV/TAF City Housing Project on 1000 hectares of land and the spare parts market were signed for Rivers by the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof. Zacchaeus Adangor.

The Managing Director, Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Mustapha Njie signed for one of the contracting firms, TAF Africa Global.

On the development of a Central Spare Parts Market, Prof. Adangor also signed for the State government while the Chief Executive Officer, Okoh Jeff and Engr. Charles signed for GOSH Project Limited.

Speaking at the brief ceremony in Government House, Port Harcourt, Fubara charged the two investors to speed up the process for the development of the state.

He said the problem of housing for low income earners in the state remained  a huge concern but was being addressed with the provision of 20,000 units of affordable houses.

Fubara said though people already knew the mantra of his administration, consolidation and continuity, they also needed.to understand that it included expanding the existing structure of the current city status.

He said: “We told our people that we are not limited to the vision we inherited, but included expansion, we meant it with all seriousness and you can see with what we have done today. The city will gradually start expanding, and not limited to our present structure.

“I am happy to say this, one of our greatest problems is housing for the low income earners. Our vision as at today, is to provide for those levels of people. What we have done is to give our people hope.”

On the spare parts market, Fubara said during the electioneering campaigns he promised dealers at Ikoku in Port Harcourt that he would develop a modern market for spare parts to demonstrate his care for them.

He said: “It is important because by the time the spare parts market starts up, we will have a central place where businesses that have to do with vehicles; repairs, sales and other associated activities will be established for the traders. It won’t be just a market, it will also bring about a level of development within that axis.”

Read Also: Army distributes books, palliatives to students, widows, orphanages in Rivers

He charged the investors to ensure immediate commencement of the projects and to carry out the groundbreaking without delay.

Speaking for TAF Africa Global, Mr. Mustapha Njie said a subsidiary of his company called Pricewise Home Nigeria Limited would develop 20,000 housing units in phases on the 1000 hectares of land and thanked the governor for the confidence reposed in them to do the project.

On his part, the Chief Executive Officer of Gosh, Mr. Okoh Jeff assured that they would be dedicated to delivering a central spare part market that would accommodate all traders in that business in one place.

Meanwhile, Fubara has also vowed that his administration will fulfill all the promises that were made during the electioneering campaigns to make life better for all residents in the state.

Fubara spoke on Saturday at the funeral reception of His Royal Majesty, late King Nelson Atubo Oputibeya XI, Amanyanabo of Koniju Town, who died at 92 years in Koniju Town in Okrika Local Government Area.

The governor said one area of mutual cooperation solicited from the Rivers people was to maintain the peace so that his administration could continue to deliver infrastructure and social services.

Fubara said: “Let me also say this, we must abide by the tenets of peace. That is the only way we can bring about the desired development we are all yearning for the people of the State.

“So, I want to urge every one of you, please, ensure that you maintain peace so that the promises we made during our campaign will be fulfilled.”

Fubara said he would never take the support of Wakirike people for his administration for granted because they made him feel he was not alone in the journey of providing quality governance to Rivers people.

The governor also assured the people of Koniju Town that the process to officially gazette the first class recognition given by government to the Oputibeya Traditional Stool, which was yet to be  concluded.

In his speech, Head of Owolo War Canoe House, and former Attorney-General of Rivers State, Chief Adokiye Amiesimaka thanked Fubara for being physically present to participate in burial activities as their king joins his ancestors.

The attempt by the most wanted cult leader, Gift David, popularly  known as 2Baba to wash his hands off the brutal killing of the Ahoada East Divisional Police Officer (DPO) SP. Bako Angbasim, has sparked anger in the state.

SP Bako was killed on September 8, 2023 while leading an operation to the Odiemude community in Ahoada East LGA of the state. 

His killers identified as members of the Icelander cult group decapitated and dismembered his body and subjected his remains to a caricature in a viral video.

About 50 persons, including a monarch and former LGA chairman were arrested by the police and arraigned for the killing  of the gallant police officer.

The state police command has been making frantic efforts to recover the remains of Bako to no avail.

2Baba was declared wanted for leading the members of his Icelander cult that killed and dismembered Bako, who was known as a tough professional crime fighter.

He was declared wanted by the police with N100m bounty placed on his head by the state government.

Read Also: Police intensify search for alleged DPO killer, 2Baba, arrest second-in-command

But rattled by the ongoing operations by the police to arrest him culminating in the killing of other members of his gang and nabbing of his second in command in Bayelsa State, 2Baba in a daring move released a voice note claiming his innocence in Bako’s murder.

He claimed that he once accepted amnesty but returned to cultism when members of his group were being killed by the rival cult group.

He further said that on the fateful day, he spoke with Bako but did not disclose the content of their discussion.

He said: “I want to tell the Rivers State Government that I am not involved in anything concerning the death of DPO. I didn’t want to say anything all this while. But I decided to speak out because of the way people were talking about it.

“I was surprised and I want to tell people that I was not after the DPO and I’m not involved in his death. It is just that the incident happened in my community road. And the day it (killing) occurred I spoke with him. I and the DPO discussed. I was not even there when he was killed that day and I was shocked when I heard about the incident.

He added: “We submitted all the arms and ammunition we have, but our opposition refused to submit. And I saw that the government didn’t do anything about it. So my gang started regretting our decision to submit our arms.

“So since we longer have weapons, our rivals now used the advantage to be trailing us and killing members of my gang. They killed my younger brother of the same parents and burnt our hours. That was my annoyance and that was why I went back to gun play (crime).

 “I didn’t pick up arms again for the purpose of intimidating people and causing problems. Everybody knows I was not into kidnapping, illegal bunkering or any criminal activity.

“I have just been concentrating on my business. And everybody knows that the only business I was doing was dredging. That is what I do. I am  self-sponsored and not bankrolled by a traditional ruler”.

But there was anger in Rivers over 2Baba’s claim of innocence especially among the youths of Ahoada East, who urged members of the public to disregard it.

The Public Relations Officer of Igbu Akoh Youth Congress, Hector Igageta, reiterated the allegation against 2Baba describing him as a notorious kidnapper and cultist.

He said: “If he says his hands are clean and that he is not involved in the death of Bako, he should come out openly and submit himself to the police. He should explain to the police what happened to Bako in his own community. 

“He should also tell the police the person behind the series of killings of youths of Ekpeye and Akoh. He should tell the police who recently killed five persons in Odemereiyi. He hijacked people’s dredgers under duress. He should stop hiding because his days are numbered. 

“We the youths will make sure that those involved in the killing of innocent persons especially that of Bako will be brought to book. No amount of distraction will stop the judiciary from doing their work. If you know that you are not involved come out. 2Baba never took any amnesty”.

The Rivers State Police command acknowledged the denial made by 2Baba in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP. Grace Iringe-Koko.

The police, however, asked 2Baba to come forward and present himself to the authorities to afford him the opportunity of defending himself.

The statement said: “While the police acknowledge the denial made by Gift David, it is important to emphasize that the principle of justice demands a fair hearing for all parties involved. 

“The police understand the importance of listening to the other party, and it is crucial to note that everyone is considered innocent until proven otherwise. As such, the Rivers State Police Command urges Gift David Okpara, aka 2Baba, to come forward and submit himself to the authorities, providing the opportunity to present evidence that could support his claims of innocence. 

“The police are committed to upholding the principles of due process and are open to receiving any information that can aid in the ongoing investigation. It is imperative for Gift David Okpara to cooperate with law enforcement to ensure a thorough and transparent resolution to this serious matter.”